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APPENDIX P
<br />McClane Canyon Mine Expansion and Frulta Loadout Facility Biological Assessment
<br />Creosote-treated.wood railroad ties would be used. on the bridge across Reed Wash. Toxicity of
<br />creosota is due to organic constituents,- including PAHs (see discussion, above); which can be
<br />subject to bioaccumulation in aquatic invertebrates and fish. Creosote -derived PAH
<br />accumulations in fish can lead to cancer and teratogenesis (Washington State Department of
<br />Natural Resources, 2008).
<br />Propylene glycol would be sprayed on coal and coal cars as a de-icer to minimize freezing of
<br />coal during winter months rather than ethylene glycol (antifreeze). Propylene glycol is
<br />considerably less toxic than ethylene glycol (U.S. 'Department of Health and Human Services.
<br />1997; New Hampshire Department of Environrrtehtal Services, 2006),_ for ,which toxicity
<br />thresholds are very low to aquatic invertebrates (>20,000 mg/L}'and fish (>17,800 mg/L) (World
<br />Health Organization, 2000), Propylene glycol used to de-ice coal cars would not be considered
<br />a risk to Colorado pikeminnow or the water quality PCE in Reed Wash.
<br />Control of noxious weeds at the Mine and Loadout Facility involves proposed use of several
<br />commercial herbicides (including active ingredients) including Roundup (glyphosate), Escort
<br />(metsulfuron-methyl), Curtail (clopyralidid and 2,4-0), and Arsenal (imazapyr). . Garton4 or
<br />Pathfinder 11 .(tryclopyr) might be used at some locations • on the Mine to ''specifically control
<br />tamarisk. Although comparative toxicities to endangered Colorado River fish species have not
<br />been found in the literature, use of triclopyr ester and possibly use of glyphosate may present a
<br />high toxicity risk to endangered fish species based, in part, on sensitivity responses to the
<br />insecticide carbaryl (Fairchild, 2003): Other herbicides, principally metsulf&on-methyl,
<br />imazapyr, and clopyralid are practically non-toxic to fish (Washington State Department of
<br />Transportation, 2011).
<br />Cumuilative Effects. Cumulative effects include the effects of future State, tribal, local, or
<br />private 'actions that are reasonably certain to occur in the Action Area considered in this BA.
<br />Future federal actions that are ;unrelated to _the Proposed, Action are not considered because
<br />they require separate consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA (FWS and NMFS, 1998).
<br />No'State, tribal, local, or private actions, are'reasonabiy certain to occur r" ftihin Reed Wash and
<br />the 100-yeae floodplain.
<br />As the human population in Mesa and Garfield counties expands, in part due to economic
<br />growth by the oil and gas industry, cumulative effects to the Colorado River system are
<br />anticipated in the foreseeable future. Within the -Action Area (the Upper Colorado River Basin
<br />and listed species' critical habitats in the Colorado River from Reed Wash downstream to Lake
<br />Powell, Utah) increased traffic due to increase human populations could increase potential for
<br />accidental spills of petroleum products and increase the spread of noxious weeds within the
<br />Action Area. Both effects could be deleterious to -Colorado River fish species, but levels of risk
<br />can not be determined.
<br />These effects are expected to be similar to -those that have affected endangered Colorado River
<br />fish including physical alterations (impoundments acid .diversions), chemical changes to habitats
<br />(FWS, 1980), changes in river lbw regimes, migratory barriers, changes in water temperature,
<br />competition and predation by exotic fish species, parasites, and altered food base (FWS, 1987;
<br />FWS, 2002a). None of those effects, whether due to State, tribal, local, orprivate actions, are
<br />reasonably certain to occur within the Action Area in the ,future.
<br />4.3.1.4 Conservation Measures
<br />The following conservation measures have been proposed to avoid or•minimize effects by the
<br />Proposed Action to Colorado pikeminnows and critical habitat in Reed Wash and the 100 -year
<br />floodplain.
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<br />PR -02 10/12
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